Tuesday 1 May 1660

Annotations

• N WKW on Thu 1 May 2003, 11:44pm

  The “Dress” page is innocent as yet on this topic:
  “To-day I put on my suit that was altered from the great skirts to little ones.”
  Would “skirts” refer to the lower portion of the coat? or to the flared legs of the breeches? The Companion on “Men’s Dress” advises that breeches “were of different types; the grandest, edged with ribbon, might well measure more than yard about at each knee,” and thus were known as “petticoat breeches”: skirts by another name indeed (pp. 98-99).
  

• N gerry on Fri 2 May 2003, 12:40am

  L&M text uses French pistoll but the note says “pistole;gold coin worth 17s6d

• N Roger Miller on Fri 2 May 2003, 12:52am

  “The term pistole sometimes also referred to the French gold louis d’or, minted in the late seventeenth century and worth anywhere from 18 shillings to slightly more than a pound (and also called a French guinea).”

  I found this here: http://www.wise.virginia.edu/history/runaways/currency.html

• N vincent on Fri 2 May 2003, 02:46am

  “Pistolres ” also mentioned by John Evelyn on The trip from Roma to Venice
  cost 7:Pistoles & 13 Julios.( end of May?1645 ) paid by bills of exchange with a merchant in Leghorne nr. Pisa
  

• N chip on Fri 2 May 2003, 02:57am

  Curious that SP does not note how much he won, considering how at times he is meticulous about money affairs. I have thought that at times he is using the diary to keep track of his ledger.

• N robin on Fri 2 May 2003, 03:51am

  He’s very casual about the poor coxon (presumably the coxswain).

  http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/bb/bb_naut.html lists the coxswain (circa 1797) as “The person who has charge of the boat and crew in the absence of officers. On a man-of-war, the Captain’s coxswain ranked high among the petty officers and had charge of the Captain’s boat and attends him.”

  http://www.usnavalreserve.com/textsite/glossary_term.asp explains that “A coxswain (pronounced cocks’n) or cockswain was at first the swain (boy servant) in charge of the small cock or cockboat that was kept aboard for the ship’s captain and which was used to row him to and from the ship. The term has been in use in England dating back to at least 1463. With the passing of time the coxswain became the helmsman of any boat, regardless of size.”

• N Mary on Fri 2 May 2003, 07:50am

  Skirts

  According to the OED, when the term ‘Skirt’ is used of men’s clothing, it refers either to the lower portion of a robe or gown, or to the part of a coat or jacket that falls below the waist. It does not appear with application to breeches. It looks as if Sam is having a full-skirted jacket taken in.

• N Glyn on Fri 2 May 2003, 10:51am

  Death of the coxon (or coxswain)

  Chip: Pepys had probably never met the coxswain of the Cheriton, but I agree that he does seem to treat death more casually than we would do today. I can understand how people would die from disease or war, but I’m a little surprised at how many people he knows that die in accidents. There have been at least two so far in this diary (maybe more?): the seaman today and a man killed by a horse back on March 1st. Presumably, if you did have a serious accident, but survived it, you would be as likely to be killed by the doctor.

  Incidentally, most British seamen couldn’t swim at this date: it was felt that they should stay away from the water; and if they did fall overboard, better to die quickly rather than prolong the suffering.

• N sharon on Fri 2 May 2003, 12:05pm

  Great skirts:
  Sam earlier referred to his suit with “great skirts” in the January 1 and February 2 diary entries. In each case, Susanna very usefully provided us with discussion and wonderful illustrations of “petticoat breeches” at
  http://www.costumes.org/pages/fashiondress/17thCent.htm
  I suspect he will be paying a fair bit of attention to dress these days in anticipation of fetching the new king, so it would be lovely if anyone can add further information (especially pictures) to the Background section.
  

• N j a gioia on Fri 2 May 2003, 01:50pm

  After dinner to nine-pins, and won something.

  this says to me that sam did not win nearly so much as he’d lost the night before.

• N Paul Brewster on Fri 2 May 2003, 01:52pm

  L&M Footnote:
  “This was the first May Day on which the erection of Maypoles had been allowed since their suppression by the Puritans in 1644 and 1654. During the revolution, May Day had continued to be celebrated as a holiday, and Londoners had still gone in their finery to Hyde Park much as usual: cf. The yellow book: or a serious letter sent by a private Christian to the Lady Consideration, the first day of May, 1656 … (1656).

• N Paul Brewster on Fri 2 May 2003, 02:00pm

  A different light on the uses of Hyde Park
  Wheatley Footnote: “In 1656 was published The Yellow Book, or a serious letter sent by a private Christian to the Lady Consideration, the first day of May, 1656, which she is desired to communicate in Hide Park to the Gallants of the Times a little after sunset. Also a brief account of the names of some vain persons that intend to be there.”

• N Ann on Fri 2 May 2003, 02:39pm

  Out of sight, out of mind?

  An what of Sam’s “poor wife?”
  April 3 — “My heart exceeding heavy for not hearing of my dear wife.”
  April 9 — He writes her two or three letters.
  April 11 — He gets two letters from her.

  And nary a word about her since. Just a month ago, he was in the throes of melancholy, now he’s gambling, playing ninepins and dressing in his best, wishing he were in Hyde Park. Methinks our Sam is fickle…..

• N Alan on Fri 2 May 2003, 08:47pm

  Is this the Nonsuch that Henry Hidson used to explore Hudsons Bay in Canada?

• N Jaie on Fri 2 May 2003, 10:47pm

  Alan - Hudson’s Nonsuch ( http://seagifts.com/seagifts/nonsuch.html ) and the ship Pepys refers to are almost certainly not the same. Hudson

• N vincent on Fri 2 May 2003, 11:05pm

  “Nonsuch ” built by Peter Pett I, at Woolwich 1646 Wrecked in 1664 .from :-

  http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/sailship.htmat

• N Emilio on Sat 3 May 2003, 12:30pm

  Cuttance’s new commission
  I wonder if anyone can shed light …
  Cuttance’s commission for the Cheriton looks like a demotion, since up to this point he’s been flag captain aboard the Naseby. I wonder if, like vicars of the time, he was allowed to keep his commission for the Naseby in addition to the new one, and to hire another captain (for less than the money of the commission) to actually command the Cheriton for him.
  

• N Emilio on Sat 3 May 2003, 12:46pm

  Cuttance redux
  On further research, the flag captain is Roger Cuttance, and this is his son Henry. This sudden commission must be a favor to Roger, just of a different kind.
  

• N Susanna on Sat 3 May 2003, 08:09pm

  Maypoles

  There doesn’t seem to have been any violence over them at Deal. At Oxford today one was set up at the Bear Inn, “to vex the Presbyterians and Independents”; when the university’s vice-chancellor tried to chop it down, he was beaten up by the crowd.

• N Jenny Doughty on Sat 10 May 2003, 09:55pm

  May Day seems to have been a big occasion for celebration in the 17th century. I thought we might all enjoy seeing a contemporary poem that gives a flavour of the joyfulness of it.

  The poet, Robert Herrick (1591-1674), was deprived of his living in Devon after the execution of King Charles I because of his Royalist sympathies. During this time, he lived in Westminster, depending on the charity of friends and family. He spent some time preparing his poems for publication, and had them printed in 1648 under the title ‘Hesperides; or the Works both Human and Divine of Robert Herrick’, with a dedication to the Prince of Wales.

  When Charles II was restored to the throne, Herrick petitioned for restoration to his living. Perhaps King Charles felt kindly towards this genial man, who had written verses celebrating the births of both Charles II and his brother James before the Civil War. Herrick became the vicar of Dean Prior again in the summer of 1662 and lived there until his death in 1674, at the ripe age of 83.

  Corinna’s Going A-Maying
  
  Get up, get up for shame, the blooming morn
  Upon her wings presents the god unshorn.
  See how Aurora throws her fair
  Fresh-quilted colours through the air:
  Get up, sweet slug-a-bed, and see
  The dew bespangling herb and tree.
  Each flower has wept, and bowed toward the East
  Above an hour since; yet you not dressed,
  Nay! not so much as out of bed?
  When all the birds have matins said,
  And sung their thankful hymns: ‘tis sin,
  Nay, profanation to keep in,
  When as a thousand virgins on this day,
  Spring, sooner than the lark, to fetch in May.

  Rise, and put on your foliage, and be seen
  To come forth, like the spring-time, fresh and green;
  And sweet as Flora. Take no care
  For jewels for your gown, or hair:
  Fear not, the leaves will strew
  Gems in abundance upon you:
  Besides, the childhood of the day has kept,
  Against you come, some orient pearls unwept:
  Come and receive them while the light
  Hangs on the dew-locks of the night,
  And Titan on the eastern hill
  Retires himself, or else stands still
  Till you come forth. Wash, dress, be brief in praying:
  Few beads are best, when once we go a-Maying.

  Come, my Corinna, come; and coming, mark
  How each field turns a street; each street a park
  Made green, and trimmed with trees: see how
  Devotion gives each house a bough,
  Or branch. Each porch, each door, ere this,
  An ark, a tabernacle is
  Made up of white-thorn, neatly interwove,
  As if here were those cooler shades of love.
  Can such delights be in the street,
  And open fields, and we not see’t?
  Come, we’ll abroad, and let’s obey
  The proclamation made for May:
  And sin no more, as we have done, by staying;
  But my Corinna, come, let’s go a-Maying.

  There’s not a budding boy, or girl, this day,
  But is got up, and gone to bring in May.
  A deal of youth, ere this, is come
  Back, and with white-thorn laden home.
  Some have despatched their cakes and cream,
  Before that we have left to dream:
  And some have wept, and wooed, and plighted troth,
  And chose their priest, ere we can cast off sloth.
  Many a green-gown has been given;
  Many a kiss, both odd and even:
  Many a glance too has been sent
  From out the eye, love’s firmament:
  Many a jest told of the keys betraying
  This night, and locks picked, yet we’re not a-Maying.

  Come, let us go, while we are in our prime;
  And take the harmless folly of the time.
  We shall grow old apace, and die
  Before we know our liberty.
  Our life is short; and our days run
  As fast away as does the sun:
  And as a vapour, or a drop of rain
  Once lost, can ne’er be found again:
  So when or you or I are made
  A fable, song, or fleeting shade;
  All love, all liking, all delight
  Lies drowned with us in endless night.
  Then while time serves, and we are but decaying;
  Come, my Corinna, come, let’s go a-Maying.

  
  

• N vicenzo on Sat 5 Mar 2005, 03:23am

  here are The Letters; communications from the king [may 1st, 1660] unopened letter; to Monck [Our trusty and well beloved General]
  http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=26177
  here is the Kings Declartion

• N vicenzo on Sat 12 Mar 2005, 03:21am

  ‘…Instructions for the Commissioners going to the King.
  “You are to begin your Journey towards His Majesty on Friday next, and make a speedy Repair to such Place where His Majesty shall be, and humbly to present the Letters wherewith you are respectively intrusted by both Houses of Parliament…………”

  From: British History Online
  Source: House of Lords Journal Volume 11: 10 May 1660. Journal of the House of Lords: volume 11, ().
  URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=13948
  Date: 12/03/2005
  

• N cgs on Mon 17 Dec 2007, 08:38pm

  re-reading knees:
  “…setting up the King’s flag upon one of their maypoles, and drinking his health upon their knees in the streets, and firing the guns, …”
  rereading dothe give me a sense of not ‘uman but trees bees knees?
  any thoughts?